Iowa vs. Purdue

Deciding between University of Iowa and Purdue University Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Iowa
Purdue University Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Iowa Iowa City, IA
  • Purdue West Lafayette, IN
  • Setting
  • Iowa Small City
  • Purdue Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Iowa 30,779
  • Purdue 58,658
  • Type
  • Iowa Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Iowa #233
  • Purdue #102
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Iowa -
  • Purdue -
  • Status
  • Iowa Non-profit
  • Purdue Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Iowa
  • Purdue

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Iowa $11,283
  • Purdue $9,992
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Iowa $33,371
  • Purdue $28,794
  • Room & Board
  • Iowa $12,920
  • Purdue $12,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Iowa $21,765
  • Purdue $13,722
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Iowa $9,865
  • Purdue $11,294
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Iowa 76%
  • Purdue 40%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Iowa 27,770
  • Purdue 78,745
  • Admitted
  • Iowa 23,222
  • Purdue 39,272
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Iowa 83.6%
  • Purdue 49.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Iowa 22.4%
  • Purdue 29.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Iowa 1230
  • Purdue 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • Iowa 24
  • Purdue 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Iowa 3.81
  • Purdue 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Iowa A-
  • Purdue A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Iowa Challenging
  • Purdue Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Iowa
  • Purdue Low
  • ACT Range
  • Iowa 21/28
  • Purdue 27/34
  • SAT Range
  • Iowa 1130/1330
  • Purdue 1200/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Iowa Test optional
  • Purdue Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Iowa May 1, 2027
  • Purdue

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Iowa 16:1
  • Purdue 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Iowa
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Purdue
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Education (6%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Iowa 71%
  • Purdue 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Iowa $59,800
  • Purdue $61,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Iowa 70%
  • Purdue 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Iowa $21,616
  • Purdue $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Iowa $223
  • Purdue $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Iowa 44%
  • Purdue 59%
  • % Women
  • Iowa 56%
  • Purdue 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Iowa Medium
  • Purdue Medium
  • HBCU
  • Iowa No
  • Purdue No
  • % White
  • Iowa 67%
  • Purdue 65%
  • % Asian
  • Iowa 4%
  • Purdue 6%
  • % Black
  • Iowa 3%
  • Purdue 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Iowa 7%
  • Purdue 4%
  • % Native American
  • Iowa 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Iowa 0%
  • Purdue 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Iowa 3%
  • Purdue 2%
  • % International
  • Iowa 12%
  • Purdue 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Iowa 4%
  • Purdue 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Iowa 54%
  • Purdue 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Iowa 45%
  • Purdue 47%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Iowa Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Iowa No
  • Purdue No
  • Meal Plan
  • Iowa Yes
  • Purdue Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Iowa No
  • Purdue No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Iowa Yes
  • Purdue Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA with Purdue University Main Campus in West Lafayette, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Purdue University Main Campus is larger than Iowa based on total student enrollment (58,658 students vs. 30,779 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, IA (Small City setting); Purdue University Main Campus is in West Lafayette, IN (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Iowa 16:1; Purdue University Main Campus 14:1.

Iowa vs. Purdue Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa or Purdue? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Iowa ($13,722 vs. $21,765).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 0.8% lower than at University of Iowa ($12,820 vs. $12,920).
  • University of Iowa is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Purdue (about $1,291 more per year; $11,283.00 vs. $9,992.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.9% higher at Iowa than at Purdue University Main Campus (about $4,577 more per year; $33,371.00 vs. $28,794.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Iowa than at Purdue University Main Campus (76% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Purdue University Main Campus students is 14.5% larger than aid received by University of Iowa students ($11,294 vs. $9,865).

Iowa vs. Purdue Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or Purdue? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Purdue and Iowa.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Purdue University Main Campus (1340) is 110 points higher than at Iowa (1230).
  • Incoming Purdue students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at Iowa).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 1130/1330; Purdue University Main Campus 1200/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 21/28; Purdue University Main Campus 27/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Iowa - Test optional; Purdue - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Iowa May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Purdue (3.67).
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (83.6%) than Purdue (49.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at Iowa vs. 29.2% at Purdue.

Iowa vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa and Purdue? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Iowa's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Purdue University Main Campus's (68%).
  • Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Iowa graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,200 vs. $59,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Purdue University Main Campus graduates have a $116 lower median loan debt than Iowa graduates ($21,500 vs. $21,616).
  • Among borrowers, Purdue graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa graduates ($222 vs. $223).
  • More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.